UNE-EN ISO 18497-2020 PDF

Full title and description

STB UNE-EN ISO 18497-2020 — Tractors and agricultural machinery. Safety of highly automated agricultural machines — Principles for design. This designation reflects the national publication/recording of the EN/ISO text (UNE-EN ISO 18497:2020) together with a national STB identifier; the underlying international document is ISO 18497 (principles for design of highly automated agricultural machines).

Abstract

Specifies high-level design principles to address hazards and hazardous situations related to highly automated functions of agricultural tractors and self-propelled agricultural machines used in field operations. It gives guidance for safe design, risk assessment considerations and information to be provided by manufacturers (including residual risks), while noting that machine-specific (type-C) standards or manufacturer risk assessments are required for detailed requirements.

General information

• Status: Withdrawn / superseded (UNE-EN ISO 18497:2020 was annulled and later replaced by the multi-part ISO 18497 series).
• Publication date: UNE-EN ISO edition: 29 April 2020 (UNE-EN ISO 18497:2020). Original ISO publication: 7 November 2018 (ISO 18497:2018).
• Publisher: National recording/publisher: STB (national designation) and UNE/AENOR for the UNE-EN ISO publication; original publisher: ISO (International Organization for Standardization).
• ICS / categories: 65.060.01 (Agricultural machines and equipment in general).
• Edition / version: National edition STB / UNE-EN ISO 18497:2020 (based on ISO 18497:2018). The 2018/2020 text has since been replaced by the ISO 18497 series (parts 1–4, 2024) and corresponding UNE adoptions.
• Number of pages: 18 pages (ISO 18497:2018 — base document).

Scope

Provides principles for design of highly automated machine functions for agricultural tractors, tractor‑implement systems, implements and self‑propelled agricultural machines during field operations. It addresses significant hazards, foreseeable misuse and the provision of information for safe use, but excludes forestry applications, farm‑yard/barn machinery and operations on public roads. Detailed requirements for specific applications are to be provided by relevant type‑C standards or by manufacturers following risk assessment.

Key topics and requirements

• Definitions and vocabulary for highly automated agricultural machine functions.
• Design principles to manage hazards arising from highly automated operations (risk assessment oriented).
• Guidance on verification, validation and information for use (manufacturer responsibilities for residual risks and safe operation instructions).
• Limitations and applicability (excluded applications such as forestry and public‑road operations).
• Cross‑references to machine‑specific safety standards and functional safety (complementary standards such as ISO 25119, ISO 13849, IEC 61508 etc.).

Typical use and users

Used by agricultural machinery manufacturers, OEMs and suppliers designing automated functions; safety and systems engineers responsible for risk assessment and functional safety; conformity assessment bodies and test laboratories; and regulators or technical committees developing machine‑specific standards. The standard is a design‑principles reference to be applied alongside type‑C standards and national regulatory requirements.

Related standards

Commonly used together with standards on functional safety and machine safety, for example ISO 25119 ( tractors — agricultural safety / functional safety ), ISO 13849, IEC 61508 and relevant ISO 18497 parts (the newer multi‑part series). National and European machine safety standards and amendments are also relevant as complementary documents.

Keywords

highly automated machines; agricultural machinery; tractors; safety; machine design principles; automated functions; risk assessment; verification; validation; information for use; functional safety.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: An international design‑principles standard (ISO 18497) recorded nationally as UNE‑EN ISO 18497:2020 (and carrying the STB national designation in some national catalogues). It gives high‑level safety principles for highly automated agricultural machines.

Q: What does it cover?

A: Principles for the design of highly automated functions on tractors and self‑propelled agricultural machines during field operations, including hazard identification, risk management and the information a manufacturer should provide for safe use; it does not specify detailed, machine‑specific requirements (those come from type‑C standards or manufacturer risk assessments).

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers, design and safety engineers, conformity assessors, test labs and standards bodies — anyone developing or assessing highly automated agricultural machinery and its safety cases.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The UNE‑EN ISO 18497:2020 record (based on ISO 18497:2018) has been annulled and superseded by a newer multi‑part ISO 18497 series (parts 1–4 published as 2024 documents) and corresponding UNE/EN adoptions; users should refer to ISO 18497‑1/2/3/4 (the 2024 series) and their national adoptions for the current requirements. (UNE records show annulment of the 2020 UNE text on 26 March 2025 and replacement by the part‑series adoptions.)

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — the original single ISO 18497:2018 has been revised into a multi‑part standard (ISO 18497‑1, ‑2, ‑3, ‑4 published in 2024) that separates vocabulary/design principles, obstacle‑protection system design, autonomous operating zones and verification/validation guidance. National adoptions (UNE/EN and national records) reflect that split.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Highly automated agricultural machines; machine safety; tractors; design principles; risk assessment; verification; validation; autonomous operation; obstacle protection; information for use.